The drums are set to roll as New Zealand gears up to host the Netherlands for a three-match ODI series, starting on March 29 at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui.
New Zealand will head to the ground without their main players, who will miss out on the upcoming international series due to IPL duties. However, it could be a blessing for the youngsters as it provides them with adequate opportunities to showcase what they have in them.
The BlackCaps will likely move ahead with Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls as their openers. After the series, Ross Taylor, who would bid adieu to international cricket, will bind the middle-order. Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson form an experienced bowling attack, while Blair Tickner and Doug Bracewell will steadily aim to make a mark.
On the other hand, the Netherlands has not had good preparations in Kiwiland. One of their warm-up fixtures and the solitary T20I got abandoned due to rain.
They last played an ODI series against Afghanistan in January and suffered an unfortunate fate as they failed to win even a single game. Pieter Seelaar will continue to lead the Dutch side. Although the Netherlands are expected to face a hard time facing New Zealand, they would mainly rely on Max O’Dowd, Bas De Leed, Fred Klaassen, and Vimkramjit Singh for the turnaround.
Match Details: New Zealand vs Netherlands, 1st ODI
Date and Time - March 29 2022, 6:30 AM IST
Venue - Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
Broadcast - Amazon Prime Video app and website
Pitch report:
The pitch at Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, is a bowling-friendly track as stats suggest. However, the average first innings score at the venue is 237, which is certainly not ideal. Nevertheless, pacers will generate help off the surface, while the batters must churn out hard runs to put up a competitive total on the scoreboard.
Squads:
New Zealand
Tom Latham ©, Doug Bracewell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Henry Nicholls, Ish Sodhi, Ross Taylor, Blair Tickner, Will Young.
Netherlands
Pieter Seelaar ©, Stephan Myburgh, Max O’Dowd, Scott Edwards (wk), Bas de Leede, Vikramjit Singh, Aryan Dutt, Logan van Beek, Philippe Boissevain, Brandon Glover, Fred Klaassen, Ryan Klein, Clayton Floyd, Boris Gorlee, Shariz Ahmad, Michael Rippon.
Probable Playing XI:
New Zealand
Martin Guptill, Henry Nicholls, Tom Latham ©, Ross Taylor, Michael Bracewell (wk), Will Young, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Doug Bracewell, Kyle Jamieson, Ish Sodhi
Netherlands
Vikramjit Singh (wk), Max O'Dowd, Boris Gorlee, Bas de Leede, Pieter Seelaar ©, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt, Ryan Klein, Philippe Boissevain, Fred Klaassen, Brandon Glover
CE Fantasy XI:
Martin Guptill, Max O'Dowd, Tom Latham, Bas de Leede, Ross Taylor, Pieter Seelaar, Colin de Grandhomme, Kyle Jamieson, Fred Klaassen, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi.
Captain- Martin Guptill
Vice-captain- Tom Latham